Each patient had their serum cortisol concentration level measured five times. The first measure was taken the afternoon of the day before surgery (A sample), and the second two hours after induction of anesthesia with etomidate or thiopental (B sample). Subsequently a short stimulation test with intravenous injection of 250 μg of tetracosactide, a synthetic analogue of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), was performed. The third sample was taken thirty minutes after the short stimulation test blood (C sample), and next, the fourth (D) sample was taken 24 hours after induction of anesthesia. Immediately afterwards, a second short stimulation test with 250 μg of tetracosactide was performed, and 30 minutes later, the fifth blood sample (E sample) was taken.